PORTFOLIO BENJI KAPLAN
DESIGN STUDIO 4
DESIGN STUDIO 2
DESIGN STUDIO 3
DESIGN STUDIO 1
HAND-DRAWN RENDERS
DESIGN STUDIO 4 FINAL PROJECT
INCREMENTAL DESIGN
COMMUNITY
EXCAVATE CIRCULAR MONOLITHIC INTRUSION
RAMP DOWN PEDESTRIAN ACCESS USING CONTEXTUAL AXIS
INCREMENTAL DESIGN
BRIDGE CONTEXTUAL AXIS THROUGH EXCAVATION FILL IN SPACE NEXT TO BRIDGE AXIS FOR DYNAMIC INTERIOR
ABSTRACT PARTI
MAJOR AXIS SECTION RENDERING
CD DETAILS AND CONTEXTUAL RENDER
NIGHT RENDERING
STUDIO 4 MODEL
SPLIT pedestrain circulation patterns inform a notched corridor that crosses through site
DEFINE site access points and derive small corridors allowing internal site movement
SYSTEMATIZE massings inform a harmonized program orientation with residual interstices for communal space
ITERATIVE DESIGN PROCESS
STUDIO 3 MODEL
BASE MADE OF HAND-MIXED CONCRETE
STRUCTURES MADE OF STAINED BASS WOOD
DESIGN STUDIO 2 FINAL PROJECT
STUDIO 2 FINAL PROJECT
MUSEUM OF THE PRINTED PAGE
SITE PLAN
MASSING DESIGN
CONCEPT
FORM DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DIAGRAM
PEELING THE GROUND SURFACE UP TO REVEAL THE PALIMPSEST UNDERNEATH
SECTION RENDERING
DESIGN STUDIO 1 FINAL PROJECT
LIBRARY COMMUNITY KITCHEN AND FILM VENUE
PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR
EXPLODED AXON OF THE FORMS MAKING UP THE STRUCTURE
PAVILLIONS ON THE RIVERSIDE
(EVERYTHING HAND-DRAWN)
INVERTED LIGHT WELL, BOSTON CITY HALL
GRAPHITE ON PAPER
HAND-DRAWN RENDERS
3 POINT PERSPECTIVE, 33 THOMAS STREET
GRAPHITE ON PAPER
SUSPENDED WALKWAY, BOSTON CITY HALL
BK
BENJI KAPLAN
BENJIKAP@GMAIL.COM (917) 742-6999
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY
OF PITTSBURGH | Class of 2025
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE + MINOR IN FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES
- Two-time recipient of prestigous Architecture Studio TA position
- Dean’s List every semester (GPA 3.9)
- Completed all of the Architectural Design Studios
STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL | Class of 2020
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
INTERN ARCHITECT | Gerald Lee Morosco Architects PC | Pittsburgh, PA
April 2025 - Present
- Worked directly with Principal Architect to draft construction documents, pick up handdrawn redlines, 3D model concepts and render proposals
- Designed graphics of competion proposal designs in collaboration with team
- Attended meetings with clients, contractors and consultants to provide written records
- Documented existing structures and conditions for alterations and additions
SKILLS
SKILLS
- Organized a 30 year backlog of duplicate physical construction document sets and design records into ordered file system
DIGITAL
DIGITAL
- AutoCAD
- AutoCAD
- Researched manufacturers’ specifications and construction detailing in support of project development
- Revit
- Revit
- Rhino
- Rhino
SERVER | Ali Baba Restaurant | Pittsburgh, PA
- InDesign
- InDesign
September 2023 - May 2024
- Photoshop
- Photoshop
- Worked 20 hrs per week with full academic schedule
- Illustrator
- Illustrator
- SketchUp
- SketchUp
MANAGING CREW MEMBER | Baby Loves Tacos | Pittsburgh, PA
Fall 2022
- Diagramming
- Diagramming
- Spreadsheets
- Spreadsheets
- Worked as chef and line cook, preparing food and designing menu items
- Operated register, opened and closed shop, cleaned dishes
PHYSICAL
PHYSICAL
- Frequently ran shop alone
- Drafting
- Drafting
- Model Crafting
- Model Crafting
CREW | Chipotle Mexican Grill | New York, NY
- Diagramming
- Diagramming
Gap Year 2020-2021
- Drawing
- Drawing
- Worked full-time or more while frequently understaffed at multiple busy Manhattan locations
- Sketching
- Sketching
- Illustration
- Illustration
- Duties included customer service, food prep, and cleaning
- Rendering
- Rendering
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
GENERAL
GENERAL
- English
- English
SCREENER COMMITTEE | Screenshot: Asia Film Festival | University of Pittsburgh
- Note-taking
- Note-taking
February 2022 - Present
- Collaboration
- Collaboration
- Selected as member of invitation-only committee
- Basic Spanish
- Basic Spanish
- Screened 40+ films, wrote review and verdict for each
- Completed screening for two festivals
FILM
FILM
- Collaborated to design University of Pittsburgh Spring 2025
- Collaborated to design University of Pittsburgh Spring 2025
TEACHING ASSISTANT | Foundations Studio and Studio 1 | University of Pittsburgh
Spring 2024, Spring 2023
- One of two TAs selected from 30+ applicants
Contemporary Film syllabus
Contemporary Film syllabus
- Conducted desk critiques of students every class
- Taught lectures on variety of design topics
- Watch and review
- Watch and review
- Taught physical modeling techniques
400+ films a year; reviews published on Letterboxd.com (January 2020 - Present)
400+ films a year; reviews published on Letterboxd.com (January 2020 - Present)
- Selected to return to TA the following studio
VOLUNTEER | Avonstour Heritage Organic Farm | Taranaki, New Zealand
Summer 2023
- Cared for variety of livestock on rare breeds farm
- Fed animals and maintained their quarters 7 days a week